Heavy snowfall forecast as fire crews warn of ice

HEAVY snow is forecast to fall in Burton and South Derbyshire, a weather station has warned.

Rosliston Weather Station said &8216;significant&8217; accumulations were possible tomorrow and during the first part of the weekend.

On the centre&8217;s website, boss Richard Jeffries said today would be generally dry with some sunshine but very cold, adding that wintry flurries could not be ruled out.

He said tomorrow's forecast, however, was &8216;very uncertain&8217;.

&8220;It is possible that a band of rain to the west will try to push eastwards and could turn to snow as it meets the very cold air,&8221; Mr Jeffries said.

&8220;This detail is likely to change as we move through the week, but large snow depths could occur.

&8220;The detail will change on Saturday, but at the moment it looks like a period of heavy snow at first could turn to sleety rain for a while as slightly milder air works its way in.

&8220;This may bring a thaw to any lying snow. If the fronts out west don&8217;t move as far inland, we could stay bitterly cold.&8221;

While the trend for milder temperatures would continue on Sunday, colder air would push in from the north-east and there &8216;could still be some very wintry weather&8217;, he said.

As the station said the mercury had fallen to minus 5.5C yesterday, firefighters warned of the dangers of frozen lakes and ponds.

Glynn Luznyj, head of risk reduction at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said &8216;people shouldn&8217;t risk their lives by playing on the ice&8217;, adding that if children saw frozen lakes as playgrounds it &8216;could prove fatal&8217;.

He said: &8220;If people or pets fall through ice they will quickly get into difficulty because the cold water is a real shock to the system.&8221;

Mr Luznyj said anyone who saw a person of pet fall through ice and get into difficulty should call 999.